Tatts December Gets Underway Monday

TATTS DECEMBER GETS UNDERWAY Monday
By Kelsey Riley 
The Tattersalls December Sale kicks off its nine-day stand at the Park Paddocks in Newmarket Monday with a single-session yearling catalogue that has attracted 247 lots, including the last yearling ever to be offered by the late great Montjeu (Ire), as well a colt by champion sire Galileo (Ire). Following a one-day breather, the Tattersalls December Foal Sale picks up the baton for four days of action, followed by the Mare Sale Dec. 1 to 4. 

The Tattersalls December Yearling Sale enjoyed a boost in 2014 thanks to the exploits of G1 Betfred Sprint Cup winner G Force (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), a 70,000gns graduate, and the sale received a timely push yesterday when 2010 graduate Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) nosed out Hong Kong Horse of the Year Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) in the G2 Jockey Club Cup at Sha Tin. Blazing Speed, who is a local Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, cost 41,000gns. 

This year’s catalogue features offerings by nine of the top 10 active sires in Britain and Ireland, as well as the last yearling ever to be offered by Montjeu. That youngster, a February-born filly, is the first foal out of the G3 Sweet Solera S.-placed Minor Vamp (Ire) (Hawk Wing), a half-sister to the dam of multiple Group 3 winner Quest For Peace (Ire). She is consigned by Lewinstown Farm as lot 176. 

The lone offering by Galileo is a colt consigned by Marlhill House Stud as lot 185. The Mar. 7 foal is out of the winning Xaar (GB) mare Belesta (GB), who has produced a pair of winners from two foals of racing age. Belesta is a half to the dam of G1 Prix de l’Opera victress We Are (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). The catalogue also features the siblings to 46 stakes winners, including Group 1 winners Almerita (Ger) (Medicean {GB}) (lot 9); Donna Blini (GB) (Bertolini) (lot 120), who is also the dam of Japanese superstar Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}); Gitano Hernando (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) (lot 124) and Wootton Bassett (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) (lot 177). 

Franke-ly, One Good Sale… 
Following on from a record-breaking renewal in 2014–which included a record turnover for the sale of 31,420,400gns and a best-ever median of 23,000gns–the Tattersalls December Foal Sale has a tough act to follow, but with a buoyant 2014 yearling market and plenty of representation by Europe’s leading sires to fall back on, this year’s catalogue has every chance to live up to expectations. 

“It was a record-breaking foal sale last year, so that’s pretty staggering when you consider the dizzying heights of the market back in 2006 and 2007, and 2013 outdid them all,” said Tattersalls Marketing Director Jimmy George. “So the bar is set very high for the 2014 December Foal Sale, but the yearling market here has been very strong, and that will provide momentum going into the December Foal Sale.” 

The star attractions will no doubt include the four first-crop foals by Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), whose daughter out of Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley) set an Irish record while topping last week’s Goffs November Foal Sale at €1.8 million. The Frankel foals catalogued for Tattersalls are lot 1059, a colt from Cheveley Park Stud out of the G1 Fillies Mile heroine Red Bloom (GB) (Selkirk), who has produced two winners from two runners; lot 1087, a filly who is the second foal from the Group 3-placed Kirinda (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}); lot 1103, a half-brother to Group 3 winners Swiss Diva (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Swiss Spirit (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and listed winner Swiss Dream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and lot 1113, a colt out of stakes winner and multiple group-placed Dorcas Lane (GB) (Norse Dancer {Ire}). The Frankel foals will all go through the ring during Friday’s third session. 

“The one thing that sets [this year’s catalogue] apart from pretty much any other year is that this year’s first-crop sires include Frankel,” said George. “For any of us that believe that he’s the best racehorse we’ve ever seen–and you can number me amongst those–it’s very exciting to have foals from his first crop. It’s exciting to see the foals of perhaps the ultimate racehorse coming on the open market.” 

George was quick to note, however, that Frankel isn’t the only one providing sire power. Others represented by their first progeny include Frankel’s old adversaries Nathaniel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Excelebration (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), as well as G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Power (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and G1 July Cup hero Mayson (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). 

“There are some other very exciting first-crop sires in there as well,” George said. “It’s not just a one-dimensional foal catalogue–there’s a lot of quality in there.” 

While first-season sires always spark plenty of excitement, it is performance on the racetrack that justifies a high price tag, and Britain and Ireland certainly isn’t lacking in the area of top-quality proven sires, its ranks including the likes of Galileo, Dubawi (Ire), Invincible Spirit, Oasis Dream, Sea the Stars (Ire), Shamardal, Teofilo (Ire), Mastercraftsman (Ire), Dansili {GB}) and Dutch Art (GB). The Tattersalls December Foal Sale includes 99 foals by the current top 10 British and Irish sires, and 235 by the top 20. 

“Most people would agree the depth to the quality of stallions in Britain and Ireland at the moment is probably at an all-time high, and all of those stallions are represented in the foal catalogue,” George noted. “There are nearly 250 foals by the current top 20. That’s a big number, especially when one considers the quality of those horses. It is a catalogue of genuine quality.” 

Mare Sale A Global Group 1 Marketplace… 
Every year during the first week of December, an international cast from all corners of the globe descends on Park Paddocks for the Tattersalls December Mare Sale. A quick look at the honor roll of Group 1 winners produced by mares sourced at the sale will reveal why buyers come back year after year. In 2014 alone, mares bought at Tattersalls have produced the winners of more than 20 international Group 1 races in 11 countries. In the last 12 months alone, progeny of Tattersalls December graduates have clinched some of racing’s greatest prizes globally, including the Ascot Gold Cup, Japan Cup, Dubai Sheema Classic, Cox Plate, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., Investec Oaks, Irish Champion S., Prix du Jockey Club, Melbourne Cup, Prince of Wales’s S. and Queen Anne S. Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), winner of the 2011 GI Kentucky Derby and last year’s G1 Dubai World Cup, is also out of a mare purchased at Tattersalls December, as is his sire. 

“The wonderful thing about the Tattersalls December Mare Sale is that genuinely ever year it has something for everyone from all corners of the world,” George said. “That’s the key to the sale–its global appeal.” 

A flip through the history books will show that this is not a new trend; in fact, mares purchased at Tattersalls December have been shipping across the world and shaping the Thoroughbred breed for many generations. The early pioneers include Lady Angela (Hyperion {GB}), who was purchased by E. P. Taylor in 1952 for a sale-topping 10,500gns in foal to Nearco (Ity). That resulting foal didn’t amount to much, but Lady Angela was bred to Nearco again the following year before shipping to Canada, and that resulting foal Nearctic, would go on to sire Northern Dancer. 

Lady Angela’s transaction came a year after Humphrey S. Finney spent 21,700gns on four mares at the sale on behalf of Claiborne’s Bull Hancock. That quartet included Rough Shod, a 3,500 purchase, and Knight’s Daughter, bought for 2,500gns. Rough Shod still shines brightly today largely through the influence of her granddaughter Special, who produced Fairy Bridge, the dam of Sadler’s Wells, and Nureyev. That line continues to thrive for Claiborne; it’s 2010 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame (Arch) counts Special as his third dam. Knight’s Daughter went on to produce Round Table. 

Allegretta, the dam of G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine and immortal broodmare Urban Sea, the dam of Galileo and Sea the Stars, was sold at Tattersalls December in 1981. 

“The cycle and the evolution of Thoroughbred breeding is fascinating,” George noted. “It’s amazing how global it has been for how long it has been. Going back, the impact has been massive throughout the world, but even in recent years, mares bought at the December sale have produced the winners of the Melbourne Cup, the Japan Cup, the Kentucky Derby and the Dubai World Cup, and obviously they’ve won countless British, Irish and European Classics. That’s why people come here every year.” 

Those looking for the next breed-shaping mare may be inclined to check out G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Just The Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) (lot 1852), who boosted her profile with a victory in the GI E.P. Taylor S. Oct. 19, as well as the other 29 stakes-winning racing or broodmare prospects catalogued, including Group 2 winners Mango Diva (GB) (lot 1868), Pale Mimosa (Ire) (lot 1875), Longina (Ger) (lot 1886) and L’Amour De Ma Vie (lot 1882); Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Kenhope (Fr) (lot 1824) and this year’s G1 Investec Oaks and G1 Irish Oaks third Volume (GB) (lot 1767). 

The catalogue includes more than 120 stakes winners or producers, and 80 mares in foal to the top 10 active British and Irish sires. There are nine mares catalogued in foal to Frankel. Baroda & Colbinstown Studs brings the lone mare in foal to War Front to sell in Europe this year in the form of Maid To Master (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) (lot 1828), a full-sister to Mastercraftsman (Ire). 

“The wonderful thing about the Tattersalls December Mare Sale is that genuinely ever year it has something for everyone from all corners of the world,” said George. “That’s the key to the sale, its global appeal, and this year’s catalogue is no exception. There is strength and depth and variety, and the very best of British and European bloodstock, which we know year- on-year is so sought after by breeders from every continent of the world.” 

The Tattersalls December Yearling Sale gets underway today at 10 a.m. The foal and mare sales begin at 9:30 a.m. each day. For catalogues, results and live streaming, visit www.tattersalls.com.